-hubel



(Modelj) 3 SheetsSheet l.

P. A. HUBEL 81; P. J. REINHOLD. CAPSULE MACHINE.

No. 311,835. 7 Patented Feb. 3, 1885 (Model) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. P. A. HUBBL & F. J. R EINHOLD.

CAPSULE MACHINE No. 311,835. Patented Feb. 3,1885.

' Modem 3 Sheets-Sheet a.

F. A. HUBEL & P. J. REINHOLD. CAPSULE MACHINE.

llivrren 8'ra rns Permit @rrree,

FREDERICK A. HUBEL AND'FRANK J. REINHOLD, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN; SAID REINHOLD ASSIGNOR TO SAlD HUBEL.

CAPSULE-MACHlNE.

SEEECIE'ICATION forming part. of Letters Patent No. 311,835, dated February 3, L885.

Application fili-(l March 28, 1884. (Model) T ctZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be itknown that we, FREDERICK A. HUBEL and FRANK J. REiNHoLD, of Detroit, in the county of \Vayne and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Joining Gelatine Capsules, of

which the following is a specification.

Figure 1 is a plan View; Fig. 2, a perspective; Fig. 3, a perspective of one of the strip IO ping-plates and connections, portions being broken away to show how the various parts are put together; and Fig. ais avertical longitudinal section,

Our invention relates to mechanism for j oining the two portions of an ordinary gelatine capsule an operation which has hitherto been performed entirely by l1and-and will be hereinafter fully pointed out in the claims.

1 represents the frame of the machine, which is substantially rectangular, and may be made in the form of a rectangular box with two projections at one end, as shown at the right of Figs. 2 and 4, to support the rock-shaft 26.

Running lengthwise of the frame, at the upper 2 side thereof, are two guide-rods, 32 32, firmly secured to the frame by nuts 33. Below these are two longer guide-rods, 2 2, which project beyond the frame at both ends and havetheir ends connected by cross-pieces 3 8, said rods being firmly secured in the frame and stationary. lc represents a rod running lengthwise of and journal'ed in the ends of the frame, one end thereof extending beyond the frame, and having thereon a lever, 5, by which rod 4 can be turned.

7 7 represent metal plates connected together in pairs, each pair having in its center a hub, 6, which fits loosely on rod 4, and in each hub is a slot, 8, in which a pin, 9, set in rod 4, engages, so that the hub 6 with its pair of plates 7 must turn with but is free to slide on said rod 4.

10 10 represent two leaf-springs, each having a hole in its center, through which the rod 4 passes, and the ends of these springs bear against the frame, while the centers press against the ends of hubs 6.

11 11 represent two metal plates, the ends 50 of which fit over and slide on rods32 32, and the outer face of each plate 11 is provided with a device for holding a plate of, capsule-mold pins, the device shown in the drawings being a dovetail groove, 12, instead of which a simple flange on the face of plate 11, to receive the edge of the mold-plate, may be used.

13 represents a plate carrying a series, of capsule-mold pins, 11, the construction of which is well known.

15 15 represent two. stripping-plates, which we prefer to make, as shown in the drawings, Fig. 3, of two outside plates perforated with holes 50, inclosing a series of inner plates, 51, set on springs 52,which will press said plates 51 against the capsule-mold pins 14, as hereinafter described; but the stripping'plates may be made in any other known manner, as their construction isnot an essential element of this invention. The edges of the strippingplates are loosely held in slots cut in studs 16, secured 0 to the frame, and said plates are supported byeoil-springs 5-1, which are placed around guiderods 53, fastened to the loweredgcs of the stripping-plates, the lower ends of said springs restingon brackets attached to the 7 5 frame, and the guide-rods 53 passing through holes in said brackets, so that said strippingplates can be forced downward, and when released will rise to their former position. Two rock-shafts, 18,19, lie between the said So strippingplates, one of them, 18, extending across the frame, having bearings in the sides thereof and a center bearing on a sleeve, 59, supported on rod 1, while the other, 19, is hollow and is supported on rock-shaft 18, and extends only to said center bearing. One end of each of these rock-shafts extends beyond the side of the'frame, and to the end of rockshaft 18 is fastened an upwardly-projecting arm, 46, and to the end of rock-shaft 19 is fastened a similar arm, 47,,the upper ends of said arms 46 and 47 lying on opposite sides" of the cam-shaped cndot' a short rock-shaft, 48, operated by a lever, 45, so that as rockshaft 48 is turned its camshaped end spreads 9 5 arms 46 47 and operates IOCkrSllZtfllS 18 19. To rock-shafts 18 19 are secured arms 20 21, the ends of which engage with the stripping-plates, so that when the rock-shafts 18 19 are rocked arms 20 21 are moved and raise andlower the stripping-plates.

26 represents a rock-shaftjournaled in the projecting ends of frame 1, and having secured thereto a lever, 27, by which it is operated. On each side of the frame a lever, 34, having in the lower end a slot, 35, is firmly secured to rock-shaft 26, each lever 34 being a counterpart of the other, and both extending above and below said rock-shaft 26. Above and below said rock-shaft the ends of two connectingrods, 28 29, are pivoted to each lever 34, and the other ends of said connecting-rods 28 are pivoted to two pins, 17, fastened to one of the sliding plates 11 and projecting through slots in the sides of the frame, as shown in Fig. 2, while the other ends of said connecting-rods 29 are pivoted to the ends of similar pins, 17, similarly fastened to the other sliding plate 11. To a lower point on each lever 34 a long conmeeting-rod, 37, is pivoted, the upper edge of which is straight and rolls along under afriction-roller, 38, when the rod is working,while the lower edge, near its outer end, hasa projec tion, 40, with depressions or notches 34 39 on each side thereof.

23 represents a cross-head sliding on guiderods22', and havingin each endapin, 36, which engage in the slotted ends of thelevers 34, so that said levers, when moved by rock-shaft 26, slide cross-head 23on the guide-rods.

22 represents a series of plungers or rods firmly secured to and moving with cross-head 23. There are as many of these plungers 22 as there are mold-pins in plate 13, and they are set in said cross-head at the same regular in tervals at which said mold-pins are placed in said platell. Attheother end ofthe machineis another cross-head,24, similar to 23, also sliding on-said guide-rods 2 2, but held away from the frame of the machine by the coil-springs 30 on saidguide-rods. Inthiscross-head24aresetthe same number of plungers 25 as are in cross-head 23, the plungers in both cross-heads being set exactly opposite each other. Plungers 25 are not rigidly secured in cross-head 24, but pass loosely through the same, with a washer on the end, andjust within the cross-head each plunger 25 is encircled by ashort coil-spri ng, as shown, one end of which bears against the inner surface of the cross-head, while the other end may either grip the plunger firmly or bear against a shoulder on or pin in the plunger. This makes a flexible connection between each plunger and the cross-head, and permits a little lost motion on the part of the plunger.

At' each end ofcross-head 24 is pivoted one end of the connecting-rods 43, and the other ends of said rods are pivoted to the lower ends of two pivoted levers, 41, thelower ends of said levers being fastened to coil-springs 44, which tend to force said lower ends upward when depressed and draw them down when raised above a certain limit. These springs are auxiliary to the springs 30, and may be used or not at will. In the upper end of each pivoted lever 41 is fastened a frictionrolleri on an axle marked 42, which bears against the lower edge of rod37. Within the frame is held a series of tubes, 56, supported -mold-pins.

by the studs 61. There are as many of these tubes as there are plungers 22, and they are so set that said plungers will enter them when cross-head 23 is moved toward the frame of the machine. These tubes 56 reach from one plate 7 to the opposite plate 7, as shown in Fig. 4. The bore of these tubes is flared at one-end, and at the other end (marked 58) is enlarged and flared also, there being a shoulder formed where the tube is enlarged, as shown in Fig. 4.

For convenience in bringing the holes in plates 7 exactly opposite the holes in the stripping-plates 15, the pins 14, and the tubes 56, we form on the inside of each hub 6 a V-shaped tooth, which fits into a corresponding groove in each end of sleeve 59, and when the hubs 6 are rotated by turning red 4 springs 10 yield and allow these teeth to leave their grooves, into which they look again upon making a half-revolution. This device is indicated in Fig. 4, but is not illustrated in detail,because it is a common and well-known device.

The operation of our invention is as follows: Lever 27, being depressed as far as it will go, swings rock-shaft 26 and levers 34, so that by means ot'connecting-rods 28 29 the plates 11 are brought close together. Now, assuming that the machine stands relatively to the observer in the position shown in Fig. 2, a mold-plate, 13, which has on its molds caps or the short part ofa capsule, is placed in the left-hand plate 11, and a similar mold-place, which has on its molds bodies or the long part of a cap sule, is placed in the right-hand plate 11. As the machine now stands,th'e holes in the stripping-plates 15 and plates 7 arein line with the mold-pins 14. Lever 27 is now raised, and

this swings rock-shaft 26 andlevers 34, so that connecting-rods 28 29 force plates 11 toward the stripping-plates 15 until the mold-pins 14 pass through the holes in said stripping-plates, which are enlarged at the bottom to permit the mold-pins to pass .freely and lie within the holes in plates 7. Lever 45 is nowforced down toward the left, Figs. 2, 3, and its camshaped rock-shaft 48 spreads the ends of arms 46 47, thus rocking rock-shafts 18 '19, and, by means of arms 20 21, forces the strippingplates downward until the contracted upper portion of the holes therein, or in the springplates 51, when used, are pressed against the Lever 27 is now depressed, and, acting as before, but in a contrary direction, pulls the mold-pins through the holes in the strippingplates, pulling the caps and bodies from the mold-pins, and leaving them in the holes in plates 7, with their open ends toward the center of the machine. When lever 27 is depressed as far as it will go, plates 13 are lifted out, and others bearing caps and bodies are placed in position, as before. Rod 4 is The fresh IIO i'li 3 mold-plates arenow advanced toward the stri pping-plates as before, and as these plates are depressed so that the mold-pins will not pass through the holes therein, this. having been done in the previous operation of pulling the capsules, aiinger, 57, on one of the sliding plates 11 strikes a' pin, 56, in roel -shaft 48, rocking said shaft and releasing the stripping plates, which rise to their original position through the action of springs 54, and the capsules are stripped, as hereinbefore explained. \Vhen lever 27 is at its lowest position or starting-point, the friction-rollers 42 in the upper ends of levers 41 rest in the notches 39 at the ends of the connectingrods 37, and as soon as lever 27 is moved the motion'of levers 34 forces the projection 40 on each'of said connecting-rods 37 against the friction-rollers 42, the connecting-rods 37 are held down by friction-rollers 38, so that the upper ends of levers 41lare i'orcedtothe left, Fig. 2, and this, acting through connecting-rods43,drawscrosshead. 24 toward the center of the machine against theresistance of springs 30. Plungers 25 pass into the holes in plate 7 and force the caps held therein into the expanded endsof tubes 56 until the open ends thereof rest against the shoulders 58. The plungers 25 hold the caps in this position while the projections 40 on the connecting-rods 37 remain in contact with the friction-rollers 42, and before lever 27 reaches the end of its upward stroke the projections 40'pa'ss friction-rollers 42, and the upper ends of levers 41 are no longer forced down, but lie in notches 34. This allows springs 30 to force cross-head 24 and plungers 25 back to their original position. On the return movement of connectingrods 37 they simply ride over friction-rollers 42, levers 41 yielding slightly, and being brought back into position by springs 44. As lever 27 is raised, the slotted ends of levers 34 cause cross-head 23, carrying the plungers 22, to advance toward themachine center, and plungers 22 pass through the holes in plate 7, push the capsule-bodies held therein into tubes 56, the flaring end facilitating the entrance of the capsule-body, and the continued motion of the cross-head 23 causes the capsule-bodies to pass through the tubes 56 and to enter the open ends of the caps which are held against the shoulders 58. As soon as plungers 22 have pushed the ends of the capsule-bodies into the open ends of the caps the plungers 25, which up to this time have held the caps firmly in position, are released, as explained, and withdrawn by springs 30, and the continued motion of cross-head 23 forces the now joined. capsules through the plate 7 which contained the caps until they fall into a drawer which is placed under the machine. Rod 4 is now given another half-turn, when lever-27 has been depressed, and the operation of the machine continues as before explained. It

will be observed that the upward stroke of lever 27 brings the stripping mechanism in proper position to act, and causes the joining mechanism to perform its function, while the downward stroke of said lever causes the joining mechanism to return to its starting position and makes the stripping mechanism act.

operation of our invention, what we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of the sliding plates 11, adapted to carry the mold-plates 13, stripping-plates 15, and plates 7, hung on rod 4, and havingtherein perforations 55, substantially as shown and described.

2. In combination with the two pairs of perforated plates 7, hung 011 rod 4, the tubes 56, having the enlargement and shoulder 58, plungers 22 and 25, and mechanism, substantially as is described, for actuating said plungers, substantially as shown and described.

3. In combination with the tubes 56, having therein the enlargement and shoulder 58, the perforated plates 7, with mechanism for bringing the perforations in said plates in line with said tubes, guiderods 2 2, cross heads 23 24, pivoted levers 34, having slots 35 therein, pins 36, engaging with said slots, piv oted rods 37, having projections 40 thereon, pivoted levers 41, connect-ingrods 43, and springs 30, all substantially as shown and described. 1

4. In combination with the mold-plates 13 and means for advancingand retracting them, the stripping-plates 15, supported on springs, and capable of motion at right angles to the mold-pins, rockshafts 18 19, having connected thereto arms 20 21 and levers 46 47, and roclcshaft 48, having a cam-shaped end, substantially as shown and described.

5. The combination of plates 11, adapted to hold mold-plates 13, and to slide on guide rods 32, with pins 17, levers 34, fastenedto rock-shaft 26, and connecting-rods 28 29, sub stantially as shown and described.

6. In combination with rod 4, provided with handle 5, the hubs 6 6, each carrying a pair of perforated plates, 7, and having therein a slot, 8, to receive a pin, 9, set in said rod 4, and the springs 10, bearing against the outer ends of said hubs, substantially as shown and described.

7. The combination of the sliding crosshead 24 with the plungers 25, having thereon short coil-springs, one end of which is fastened to its plunger, the other end bearing against the inner surface of said cross-head, substantially as shown and described. I

8. In a capsule-machine, the combination of a number of tubes having one end enlarged and a shoulder at the inner end of said enlargement, a perforated plate adapted to receive and hold a number of caps of gelatine capsules when stripped from pins on which the same are molded, a perforated plate adapted to similarly receive and hold a like number of capsule-bodies, said plates being movable to bring the perforations of one in line with the other and with said tubes, and plu'ngers to push said caps into the enlarged end of said tubes and 'to push said bodies through said tubes, substantially as described.

9. The herein-described mechanism for joining capsules, consisting of a tube having a portion of its bore enlarged to receive the cap of a capsule and at the point of such enlargement a shoulder, against which the open end of the cap may rest, a plunger to hold the cap therein for a period and then permit it to be removed, and a plunger to push the body of a capsule through said tube into the cap, and

thence expel the joined capsule, substantially as described.

10. The combination of two sliding plates,

each adapted to carry a mold-plate, two

stripping-plates adapted to strip the caps and bodies formed on said mold-plates, and

two perforated plates adapted to receive and 25 F. A. HUBEL. FRANK J. REINHOLD.

Witnesses:

CYRUS E. LOTHROP, SUMNER COLLINS. 

